The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s New York criminal case has postponed ruling on a potential dismissal of the former president’s conviction until November 19, a decision that could have significant implications for Trump’s legal standing.
In May, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts after a jury found he had falsified business records to conceal alleged hush money payments to an adult film actress prior to the 2016 election.
His sentencing is currently set for November 26, but his legal team is aggressively pushing for a dismissal of the charges, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded the scope of presidential immunity.
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled 6-3 that presidents are afforded broad immunity from prosecution for specific official acts carried out during their time in office.
Trump’s attorneys argue that this immunity should extend to his case, which they contend is politically motivated and an overreach into presidential powers. The defense team maintains that prosecuting Trump over actions linked to his campaign threatens the autonomy and protections intended for the presidency.
The court’s postponement was announced in an email, shared by the French press agency AFP, which read, “The joint application for a stay of the current deadlines… until November 19, is granted.”
If Judge Juan Merchan ultimately dismisses the case, Trump would avoid sentencing altogether. However, if the dismissal request is denied, Trump’s lawyers are expected to file additional motions to delay sentencing or even oppose it outright. They argue that sentencing would interfere with Trump’s duties as he prepares to reassume office on January 20, should he win the upcoming election.
Prosecutors remain firm in their stance against the dismissal, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling on immunity pertains only to official acts and does not shield Trump from criminal charges tied to personal matters, including alleged campaign finance violations.
